Alarm selector apparatus



J y 1934- L. L. E. CHAUVEAU 1,957,396

ALARM SELECTOR APPARATUS Filed Nov. 19, 1928 INVENTOR LOUlS LUUEN sums cmvsau BUM Patented July 24, 1934 ALARM SELECTOR APPARATUS Louis L. E. Chauveau, Paris, France Application November 19, 1928, Serial No. 320,397

In France December 2, 1927 9 Claims. (CL'177-353) It is well known that International Commissions while at the fifth second it serves to render the have been considering the addition to the SOS zero-restoring electromagnet operative. distress signal of ships of another signal more The result is that if the dash lasts longer than particularly intended to actuate electromagnetic a second and less than three seconds, the appa- 5 alarm selectors automatically thus insuring a ratus is restored to normal. If the dash lasts distress watch in the absenceof the radio operthree seconds, the recorder advances one step ator on the vessel. This new signal consists in forward. If the dash lasts five seconds, the appasending out during say one minute intervals a ratus is restored to normal. series of dashes of four seconds separated by The space controller is adapted to actuate the 1 intervals of one second. t d iero-restoring electrlomalgiget ift the spacedbsetw ggn The present invention relates to a selec or ewo incoming signa s a ins wo secon e vice having as one of its objects the actuation of same comprises: (a) a spir l-type quilibrated one or more electric bells or other alarm devices balance 50 adapted to be liberated by an electroas soon as a series of three consecutive dashes of magnet 5'7. The natural period of balance 50 is four seconds each and separated by intervals of also one second, and aictuates and controls sets 70 one second have been accurately recorded by of contacts in order a an electric impulse may the assembly comprising the radio receiver and be sent into a line 66 at the end of each oscillathe alarm selector. U031 5tgfdthe baancf ib) two glec'tromcahgnets 6g One embodiment of the basic idea of the invenan ispOSe $0 a 60 um: ions a e end 0 tion will hereinafter be described by reference to the first Se d a that an impulse t nto 75 the accompanying drawing, shown by way of exthe line 66 at the termination of the second secample only, wherein ond.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a selector, The result is that if the space attains two secaccording to the present invention responsive to onds, t -r st rin t masnet 35 i p rthfie fouiz"-secondodiafsilgttis,f an? of the pp r 1-5 32:? and that the apparatus is restored to nor- 80 gure IS a m l o a a a The alarm selector comprises three principal The recorder consists of a series of successively parts, viz., (1) the dash controller; (2) the space ffil i l f 'i t s 2 1 51 gg ed controller; and (3) the recorder. W1 aux w 6 8C romagne a m The dash controller is adapted to measure the Order fi e e irg tf ti sucggssiveltyz'heach tigise thalt le h of the incomin dashes. It com rises (a) curren 15 sen 0 me i In 0 & al gquilibrated balafice of t spiral type 49 time that a dash attains a length of three secadapted to be liberated by means of an electroondsmagnet The natural period of balance The last relay Closes the Circuit Of a is one econd; other words goes through Set 150 Operate immediately after the two half-vibrations in each second. This balthird dash come in The circuits ance controls sets of contacts disposed in such a of the recorder relays 43 and 44 41, way that an electric impulse is sent into the line and 39 may be broken by the zem'lestol'mg elec- 51 at the end of each oscillation of the balance; tromatfnet k (b) a series of successively closed electromagnets It W111 be seen from this arrangement that If 26, 28 30 and 32 combined with auxiliary e1ec three correct dashes separated by two correct intromagnets 2'7, 29 31 and 33 adapted to be suci z f i the becomes fi f a ive, an a ,i an incorrec as orspaces ou be to normalfi t 28 th d f th d d The arrangement of the system is such that every Is secon en 0 e secon secon dash having a length equal to or greater than and so three seconds, but less than five seconds is coni The dash controller allows the sidered as accurate, and that each interval havin seconds, of the length of the incoming dashes. mg a length less than two seconds is considered Its fitnchons are: to prepare at the first Second as correct. Tolerance in this regard is necesthe circuit of an electromagnet adapted to resary so as to permit t radio operator on th di Store W System to Zero DOSltiOIl, feed a line tressed vessel to send out an alarm or call signal flctllatlng the r corder with current at the end more or less suited to actuate the selectors seeing of the second second, and prepare at the very that in most cases he has only a simple watch 5 same second a zero-restoring electromagnet, available for checking. 11o

Referring to the drawing, operation of the assembly is as follows:

Supposing that a four-second dash has been received, them the relay device 56, which is the output of a wireless receiver, closes the switch 55, the manipulating relay 54 is energized and thus attracts its keeper 1. The end of the arm of the armature 1 is forked and the shaft 3 passes between the forked members as indicated in the drawing. When the magnetic winding 54 is demagnetizedthe armature 1 moves into the position indicated in the drawing under the action of the spring 53, the rod 3 is heldunmovable, contact 6 is closed, and contact 5 rests upon the lower leaf member. When winding 54 is energized the armature 1 is drawn down, the forked member at the end is raised and allows the movable member of contact 5 to make contact with the upper leaf. This contact member remains closed as long as winding 54 is energized. The keeper 1 liberates shoulder 2 of rod 3 which holds the spring of the balance wheel 49 in tension with the result that the balance wheel is thus released and starts to swing freely. The rod 3 being released by the forked member swings up and down as the member 49 oscillates. This motion of the rod member 3 periodically closes 6.

The arm of the keeper 1 at the end of its stroke closes the upper contact of switch device 5, with the result that all points marked +0. become of positive polarity, including contact 6. The latter however has been opened because the balance has started to oscillate. The dash controller assembly is now prepared and ready to measure the first dash.

During the first half of the second /2 oscillation of 49), rods 3 and 4 ascend, while during the second half of the second, rod 3 descends and closes contact 6. The result of this is that an impulse is sent through the line 51. These movements are reproduced each second and at the end of each of them an impulse is sent into the line 51.

At the first impulse, 26 is energized by way of line 51 and contact 7 now closed. Relay 26 closes its guard contact 8, and this completes a circuit through a (at 8), 8, 27, 7, 6, a (at 5) back to a (at 8) During the impulse, however, 2'? will remain inoperative because it is short-circuited by the rest contact (back contact) 7, working con-- tact 6 and contact 5 in the upper position a (at 5) and a (at 8). However, as soon as the impulse stops, contact 6 is open, 27 no longer is short-circuited, it is energized through a (at 5), a (at 8), 8, 27, to 26 and causes connection of line 51 with line 52 by way of its contact 9, while it becomes isolated or severed from the said line 51 by its contact 7.

However, it will be seen from the last traced circuit that 26 will remain energized so that 8 will remain closed even though contact 7 is broken.

It will thus be seen that 26 operates at the end of the first second when an impulse is passed, and that 27 becomes operative immediately after this impulse.

Line 51 is then united by way of contact 9 and line 52 to the inlet or input end of 28. The latter therefore operates at the end of the second second at the time the second impulse is passed. As the arrangement of 28, 29 is the same as that of 26, 27, the relay 29 will become operative immediately after the second impulse and cause connection of line 51 with group 30, relay 31 by way of its contact 10,.

sending out the third impulse, relay 30 will operate; after this impulse 31 is energized and causes connection of line 51 over to the group 32, 33.

At the end of the fourth second, 32 operates at the instant of the fourth impulse, and 33 is energized immediately after this impulse.

It will be thus seen that the electromagnets 26, 28, 30 and 32 are successively closed in proportion as impulses are sent into the line 51, that is to say, at the end of each second.

Since it has been supposed that a four-second dash is received, at the end of the third second relay 30 when energized has caused current to flow into the line 47. The latter controls the group of recorder electromagnets 42-43 and 4139 the electrical operation of which is exactly the same as that described for the set of electromagnets 2632 and 27--33, etc.

Consequently, as soon as 30 functions, electromagnet 42 is energized through the plus terminal of the right hand contact operated upon by relay 30, line 47, contact 13, relay 42 to minus via contact 36, and is so kept by its contact 12, while 41 remains short-circuited by its contact 13 and contact 14 of 30.

After the four-second dash, switch 55 is opened, electromaget 54 is no longer energized, keeper 1 is released whereupon being drawn downwards by the spring 53, with the result that the balance wheel 49 is locked. Now, at the same time, contact 5 leaves its upper contact, points +a are no longer fed, and the relays 26 to 32 and 27 to 33 being deenergized assume their original states.

At this instant the contact 14 of 30 is open, the relay 41 is no longer short-circuited, it operates and switches the line 47 by way of contact 11 onto the group 43-40 through contact 46.

It will thus be seen that the reception of the first dash of four seconds has resulted in the energization of the recorder group 42-41.

,Supposing, then, that a correct series of dashes of four seconds is received, then upon the second dash the group of dash relays 2632 and 27-33 will become again operative. When 30 is energized a current will be caused to flow in line 47 and the electromagnet 43 will be energized.

After the second dash, the group of dash relays will come to rest, but the recorder relays 42, 43,

41 and 40 will be energized. Upon the third dash, the dash relays are operated again, the line 47 will operate.

After the third dash, the group of dash relays comes to rest, but all of the recording relays will then be energized. It will be noted in particular that the relay 39 is then excited, that its contact 16 is closed, and that the bell 65 is caused to ring. Now, the said relay 39 has a guard (holding) coil 38 fed by 'way of contact 15. The result is that, whatever signals may follow, the alarm bell 65 will continue to ring until it is stopped. It will be understood that any desired number of alarms 65 could be connected in shunt to the same circuit for giving the alarm in different places. 140

Supposing then, that one of the number of incoming dashes has lasted for five seconds. After the fourth second, the relay 33 will operate, and its contact 1'7 has connected line 51 with line 34.

The result is that at the termination of the fifth second, when impulsed, the relay 35 will become operative and break the common return of 'the recording relays through contact 36. This group is thus set at rest, indeed, another complete 7 1,967,896 correct signal will be required in oigler to operate the bell.

In casethe dash lasts longer than five seconds,

35 will operate at each second unless finally the balance 49 is stopped by its damping means.

Assuming now that any one of the dashes has had a duration longer than one second but less than three seconds. At the end of the first second 26 has become erergized, contact 18 is closed and this feeds the coil 20 of relay 48, the latter closes its contact 19 whereby the line 64 is connected with line 34; at the end ofthe unduly short dash, 54 becomes de-energized, contact 5 is moved over to its lower contact and a current is caused to fiow in line 64 and consequently line 34, the zero restoringrelay 35 operates and renders the recorder group inoperative.

But if, on the contrary, the dash has been cor- .rect, then, upon operation of relay 30 the coil 21 of relay 48 would have been energized. The coils 20 and 21 of 48 are equal but opposite, their action is neutralized, and as a. consequence 19 would have been opened and the flow of current in line 64 would have been ineffective.

It will be noted that relay 48 has a slight timelag ring 67, in order that 48 may remain energized a short instant after 26 has come to rest in order that the zero impulse by line 64 may become effective. It will thus be seen that every dash longer than a second and less than three seconds causes the system to be restored to zero.

Every dash having a length less than one second is unable to produce an action upon the system. This is an advantage because the apparatus is thus made more flexible and cannot be influenced in any way by Morse signals of the usual manual rate. However, if for reasons of service it should turn out to be necessary to cause restoration to zero for dashes less than one second, all that would then be required is to feed the coil 20 directly by way of the upper contact'a of contact 5 without passing by way of contact 18 of 26. Under these conditions, 48 would be energized as soon as an action of relay 49 occurs, and a dash, no matter how short, would cause restoration to zero.

Check-up on the silence periods or spaces is effected in the following manner: As long as the signal has not been started, it is unnecessary to measure these periods, and it is for this reason that the circuit of relay 57 passes by way of line 37 and contact 22 of relay 42. Under these conditions, immediately after reception of the first correct dash, contact 5 is caused to move to its rest or back contact, and 57 is energized, and it controls an equilibrated balance wheel 50 of the spring type being in all regards similar to 49. The result is that a current is caused to flow in line 66 by way of contacts 23 and 24 at the end of each second of silence. At the end of the first second, the relay 60 is energized, and immediately thereafter the relay 59 is energized and connects line 66 by way of its contact 25 with the line 34. The result is that if the silence period or space 65 between any two dashes lasts two seconds the zero relay is operated and causes the recorder to restore.

It will thus be noted that the silence period or space between signals is regarded as correct as long as it does not last two seconds or over. In order to facilitate understanding of the function of the balances and of the contacts of the same, balance wheel 49 is shown locked, which is the correct position, whereas balance 50 is shown free although the contact 22 of 42 is open.

Another embodiment of the same selector given by way of example is shown in Figure 2 and claimed in my Patent 1,934,912, dated Nov. 14, 1933. Theassembly of balances and relays 26, 32, 27, 33, 60 and 59 is replaced by a mechanical device constructed in the following manner.

A wheel 81 is rotated in a continuous manner at the rate of one revolution per second, either constantly by means of a motor fed from a source or a clockwork, or else only at the time when signals are coming in. In this latter case the movement of the wheel 81 is controlled either by the manipulating relay 71 or by the spacer relay 87 or better by a relay in series with a wire common to the circuits of these two electromagnets.

As the wheel 81 is assumed to have a constant rate of speed of 1 revolution per second, the relay 71 playing the part of 54 is energized upon the reception of dashes, and causes meshing between the wheel 77 and the drive wheel 81. The wheel 77 will then revolve at the rate of 1 revolution each 10 seconds or else a half turn in five seconds. Then, assuming that the beginning of motion of wheel 77 is fixed by stop. 91, the shoulder 74 of this wheel will close the contact when the incoming dash has lasted for a second, contact when the incoming dash has lasted three seconds, and 78 when the incoming dash has lasted five seconds.

Contacts 70, 90 and 78 play the same part as the contacts 18, 14 and 17, Figure 1. Consequently the action of the assembly of 71 and wheel 77 is exactly the same as that of assembly 54, 49, 26, 28, 30 and 32 and 27, 29, 31, 33 in Figure 1.

When the incoming dash is finished, electromagnet 71 is no longer excited, and the wheel 77 is disengaged with wheel 81 by the spring 73, the said wheel 77 is restored to its position of rest by action of spring 75.

During the return movement of wheel 77, 010- 115 sure of contacts 90 and 70 is ineffective because at this instant the contact 72 no longer is on its upper contact.

Wheel 77 is made integral with wheel 81 by means of a friction device so that, if the dash lasts longer than 5 seconds, wheel 77 does not continue rotating because it is arrested by its stop 76 coming then to bear upon the lower edge of support 80.

Of course, if such a system is to operate conveniently, it is necessary that the contacts 70, 90 and 78 should keep a constant position with relation to the spindle of wheel 77. For this purpose, they are supported by projection or lug of support 80 not shown in the drawing.

The relay 87 operates like the relay 57 in Figure 1. It is then meshed or engaged on drive wheel 81 with a wheel 83 revolving one turn each two seconds. The beginning of the movement of wheel 83 is fixed by the stop 93 supported upon 135 support 92. Hence, wheel 83 is coupled with wheel 81 during the periods of silence or spaces.

It makes a half turn each two seconds, and the result is that if a space lasts two seconds the contact 86 is closed by finger 82, with the conse- I40 quence that the zero electromagnet is rendered operative.

The wheel 83 is also in frictional engagement with wheel 81 so that 83 does not continue to revolve in the presence of a space lasting over two 145 seconds, and after such period it is restored to its starting point by the spiral 84.

The relay circuit 87 is also connected by way of contact 22 of 42 in order that the space electromagnet 5'7 may be isolated as long as no dash has been recorded.

It follows from what precedes that a selector as here described allows of setting into action a bell whenever a signal consisting of three conv dash over one second and less than three seconds is received. Still, it could be modified in such a; way that it will be set at rest every time that a dash lasting less than three seconds is received.

The apparatus is restored to zero every time that a dash over five seconds or that a space over two seconds is recorded.

The figures for the length of the dashes and the spaces hereinbefore given are merely by way of example, for they can be changed according to the signal to be received, and such an alteration is associated merely with a change in the period of the balances or of the electro-mechanical system of Figure 2. Also the number of elements of the recorded group could be changed, for

instance, with a view to receive signals comprising more than or less than three consecutive dashes.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a call selector system, means responsive to received signals, a time interval measuring device operatively associated therewith only during the duration of the impulse effecting a periodic alternating movement and'closing an electric circuit once per period, a set of relay devices electrically associated with said circuit and interconnected to be successively and periodically operable in accordance with the measured time intervals, a second set of relay devices inter-connected to be successively and periodically operated and means in said first mentioned relay devices operable upon the operation of a predetermined number thereof for operating one of said second set of relays and means operable upon the operation of a predetermined number of said second set of relays for setting into operation a calling device, a zero restoring device associated with said circuit for discontinuing when energized the excitation of the said second set of relays to render said calling device inoperable and means associated with the last of said first mentioned set of relays for rendering said zero restoring mechanism operable when the received signal is of too great a length, a second time interval measuring device, means for rendering this device operative, the circuit of these means being associated with a device responsive to the signal during the duration of the dash and on the other hand being associated with the first relay of the second set beforementioned, a circuit periodically closed by the second device for measuring the length of time, and means controlled thereby for rendering said zero restoring mechanism operable when the received signal is improperly spaced and means including said first mentioned means in electrically associated with said circuit and interconnected to be successively and periodically operated in accordance with said measured intervals, a second set of relay devices and means controlled by said first mentioned relay devices and operative upon the operation of a predetermined number thereof for rendering said second set of relay devices selectively and successively'operative and means controlled by the operation of a certain predetermined relay device of said second set for operating a calling device, and a second time interval measuring device, means in circuit with said first time interval measuring device and responsive to a non-operative condi tion of said first time interval measuring device for rendering said second time interval measuring device operative, said second time interval measuring device being arranged when operative to render said calling device inoperative upon the receipt of an improper signal.

3. In a call selector, means responsive to received signals, a time measuring device associated with said means, an electric circuit, means interposed between said device and said circuitto periodically make and break the latter, a plurality of relay devices operatively associated with said circuit and arranged to be successively operated by energy therein, a second set of relay devices operatively associated with said first mentioned relay devices and means operative upon the operation of a predetermined number of said first mentioned relay devices for rendering said second relay devices operative, a calling device associated therewith, and means controlled by the operation of a certain predetermined relay of said second set for operating said calling device.

4. In a signal selective apparatus responsive to a predetermined number of dashesand spaces of predetermined time duration in combination, a signal responsive device, a recorder device comprising a series of normally opened relay circuits each of said relay circuits having means for closing the circuit of the relay immediately following at the end of each signal impulse of correct time duration, a utilizing circuit and means upon the operation of the last of said relays for rendering said utilizing circuit operative, a dash controller comprising a second series of normally opened relay circuits each thereof having means for closing the circuit of the relay immediately following at predetermined intervals of time, an oscillating escapement device for determining said intervals of time, the last of said last named series of relays having means for transmitting an impulse to said recorder if the duration of the received signal impulse is correct and rendering the whole system inoperative if incorrect, and an interval controller comprising 'means for measuring the length of the interval between signal impulses and means when any interval between signal impulses is incorrect for returning the entire system to its original condition.

5. In a selective apparatus responsive to a certain predetermined series of signals, means for measuring the length of a particular signal impulse comprising a signal responsive device, an oscillating escapement mechanism arranged to be set into motion thereby upon the receipt of a signal, an electric circuit, means including said oscillating mechanism for periodically sending a current impulse through said circuit, a series of relay devices operatively associated with. said circuit, means for successively operating said relay devices in accordance with said impulses, a recorder device and means associated with the last of said relay devices for rendering said recorder device operative upon said last named relay device being operated.

6. In a selective apparatus responsive to a certain predetermined series of signals, means for measuring the length of a particular signal impulse comprising a signal responsive device, an oscillating escapement mechanism arranged to be set into motion thereby upon the receipt of the signal, an electric circuit, means including said oscillating mechanism for periodically sending a current impulse through said circuit during the duration of a particular signal impulse, a series of relay devices operatively associated with said circuit and means for successively operating one of said relay devices each time a current impulse is sent through said circuit, a second series of relay devices operatively associated with said first named series of relay devices and means for successively operating one of said second named series of relay devices each time that all of said first named series of relay devices are successively operated. v

7. In a selective apparatus responsive to a certain predetermined series of signals, means for measuring the length of a particular signal impulse comprising'a signal responsive device, an oscillating escapement mechanism arranged to be set into motion thereby upon the receipt of the signal, an electric circuit, means including said oscillating mechanism for periodically sending a current impulse through said circuit during the duration of a particular signal impulse, a series of relay devices operatively associated with said circuit and means for successively operating one of said relay devices each time a current impulse is sent through said circuit, a second series of relay devices operatively associated with said first named series of relay devices, means for successively operating one of said second named series of relay devices each time that all of said first named series of relay devices are successively operated, and means upon the receipt of an improper signal impulse for returning the entire system to its original condition.

8. In a selective apparatus, signal responsive means, an oscillating escapement device arranged to be rendered operative thereby upon receipt of a signal impulse, a series of normally disconnected relay devices each thereof having means for connecting the relay device immediately following in series therewith, means upon receipt of a signal impulse for rendering the first of said relay devices operative, means upon each successive swing of said oscillating escapement device during the receipt of said same signal impulse for successively connecting said relays in series and means for recording the number of signal impulses comprising a series of normally disconnected relay devices each thereof having means for connecting the relay device immediately following in series therewith and means upon the connection of the last of said relays for rendering operative a calling device.

9. In a call selector having a calling device arranged to function upon the receipt of a desired combination of signal impulses, circuit means for operating said device, and. a signal responsive 

